Axl Rose Settles Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed by Former Model Sheila Kennedy.

Axl Rose, 62, lead singer of Guns N’ Roses, has settled a sexual assault lawsuit filed by former model Sheila Kennedy, 62, last year. The lawsuit, which accused Rose of assaulting Kennedy in a New York hotel room in 1989, has been resolved, though the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed.

Kennedy, a former Penthouse “Pet of the Year,” alleged that Rose used his celebrity status to assault her. The lawsuit claimed that after their first meeting at a nightclub, Rose invited Kennedy to his hotel room, where he and his associate David “Riki” Rachtman hosted a gathering. Rose allegedly asked Rachtman to clear the room, leaving Kennedy and another model behind.

According to the lawsuit, Kennedy became uncomfortable witnessing Rose’s aggressive behavior toward the other model and when she observed Rose engaging in “sexual activity with the other model.” The situation reportedly escalated.

Rachtman and Kennedy walked down the hallway into a back bedroom to talk when, suddenly, she heard “objects being thrown and the sound of glass breaking.” She also claimed to hear Rose shouting at the other model and was warned by Rachtman, “It’s going to get bad.” Kennedy then allegedly heard Rose “storming down the hallway” toward them, and when he saw her, he shouted,: “What the f— are you doing here?” She claimed that Rose grabbed her by her robe and “knocked her to the floor in the hallway.”

“While Kennedy was still on the ground, Rose allegedly grabbed her by the hair and dragged her across the suite to his bedroom,” the lawsuit stated. “This caused significant pain for Kennedy, and her knees bled from scraping against the rug.”

The complaint claims that Rose bound Kennedy’s hands with pantyhose before sexually assaulting her, causing her both physical and emotional harm.

Rose has denied the allegations from the start, stating, “There was no assault,” and expressing his relief that the lawsuit has been resolved. His attorney, E. Danya Perry said: “Mr. Rose has suffered greatly from this lawsuit, and I am pleased that he will now be able to move on with his life.”

Kennedy has spoken about the lasting emotional and psychological effects of the alleged assault, including anxiety and depression. She also stated that it impacted her professional life.

Kennedy filed the lawsuit just before the expiration of the New York Adult Survivors Act in 2023, which allowed survivors of sexual assault to file lawsuits against their abusers, even after the statute of limitations had expired. This provision gave Kennedy the legal opportunity to seek justice for an event that occurred over three decades ago.

Sheila Kennedy is an American model and actress who gained significant attention in the 1980s, particularly for her appearance as Penthouse magazine’s “Pet of the Year” in 1982. Known for her striking looks and confidence, Kennedy’s modeling career helped her become a prominent figure in the adult entertainment industry during that era. Aside from her Penthouse fame, she also appeared in several films and television shows, including some in the adult film industry.

Kennedy’s rise to fame was marked by her success as a pin-up model, and she built a reputation for her glamorous image. Despite this, her life and career also encountered controversy, notably involving her personal life, including the lawsuit she filed in 2022 against Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose. In her lawsuit, she accused Rose of sexual assault during an encounter in 1989. The lawsuit was settled, but the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

 

UFC Fighter Conor McGregor Denies Sexual Assault Allegations in Civil Trial